THERE has lengthy been an expectation that Lawrence Okolie would in the future step up from cruiserweight and search riches and success in a second weight class, but few would have anticipated that weight class to be bridgerweight.
That, nonetheless, is the place Okolie will discover himself in Poland on Might 24, when he challenges native fighter Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC bridgerweight belt.
Ought to he win, Okolie will in fact grow to be a two-weight world champion, with the WBC bridgerweight belt added to the WBO belt he received as a cruiserweight. And but, when individuals spoke of Okolie finally stepping up a division and boxing for a second world title, they imagined him doing so at heavyweight reasonably than in a division brief on each historical past and competitors.
Nonetheless, for Okolie, 19-1 (14), this may very well be the good transfer. In any case, final 12 months he struggled attending to grips with Chris Billam-Smith, who dethroned him in Bournemouth, and a rematch with Billam-Smith now seems a non-starter, with Billam-Smith set to struggle one other previous foe, Richard Riakporhe, as a substitute. That leaves Okolie with the prospect of transferring to heavyweight, a division wherein he would discover not solely greater males however a few of the most harmful fighters on this planet.
No less than at bridgerweight, the place boxers should weight between 200 and 224 kilos, Okolie will discover extra winnable fights and a belt available. That received’t essentially imply he makes some huge cash there, or positive aspects plenty of fanfare for profitable this specific belt, however as a stepping stone to greater selections – both returning to cruiserweight or going the entire solution to heavyweight – it’s onerous to be too crucial of it.
Additionally, Lukasz Rozanski, though no world-beater, has received 15 fights in a row and is coming off one-round demolitions of each Artur Szpilka and Alen Babic. If nothing else, then, all of it seems to be good on poster, notably if you happen to can keep away from the very fact Rozanski is 38 years of age and has by no means earlier than boxed exterior Poland.
